Beijing Tours and Holidays 2026

1. When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Beijing?

You can travel to Beijing whenever you want. The best times to visit Beijing, however, are May, September, and October. Autumn is the best season, with its comfortable weather, pleasant temperature, and colorful scenery. Before planning a trip to Beijing, it is important to gather more information about the weather in Beijing by month and also consider some packing tips.

2. What are the Best Things to Do in Beijing?

The massive city of Beijing boasts a diverse range of tourist attractions, in addition to a rich historical and cultural heritage. The most popular things to do in Beijing include:

• Marvel at the Great Wall of China: One of the Seven Wonders of the World and the largest man-made structure in the world
• Explore the Forbidden City: China's largest and best-preserved imperial palace and the world's largest ancient wooden architecture
• Visit the Temple of Heaven: China's most complete existing imperial sacrificial building complex, where Ming and Qing emperors prayed to heaven for abundant harvests
• Experience the Summer Palace: the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China, known for its outstanding combination of artificial features and natural landscape

3. Which Section of the Great Wall Should I Visit?

There are eight sections of the Great Wall near Beijing City. Which section of the Great Wall is the best to visit? Well, it depends on what you're interested in. The Badaling and Mutianyu sections are the two best-preserved sections. Since the Badaling Great Wall is the most popular section of the Great Wall among Chinese tourists, it can get very crowded. The Mutianyu Great Wall is a better choice. If you enjoy hiking, the Jinshanling and Jiankou sections offer an excellent hiking experience with pristine and wild scenery. Looking for a captivating sunset and night view of the Great Wall? Go to the Simatai Great Wall section.

4. How to Apply for a 144-hour China Transit Visa in Beijing?

Firstly, you must confirm that you are eligible to benefit from the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. Click on 144-Hour China Transit Visa for more information. To apply for a 144-hour transit visa, you must have: (1) a valid passport, (2) a valid visa for a third country or region (if required), (3) completed arrival and departure cards for temporary entry foreigners, and (4) an onward ticket to a third country/region with a confirmed seat and date within 144 hours of arrival.

5. How to Pack Smartly for a Trip to Beijing?

Top essentials:

• Your passport (valid for more than 6 months)
• Chinese visa, it is recommended to print a copy for backup
• Airline ticket/hotel reservation form (English version, some hotels may check it when you check in)
• International credit card, such as Visa/Mastercard, which can be used in large shopping malls and hotels
• Cash, because some small stores in hutongs can't use credit cards.
• Download WeChat Pay or alipay, which is the most popular payment method in China nowadays.
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Travel medical kit: cold and flu tablets, analgesic medicine, diarrhoea medicine, etc.

Clothes to pack for each season:

• Spring and Autumn (March-May, September-November): thin sweater, sweatshirt, windproof jacket (windy in Beijing in spring and autumn), long pants, scarf, hat (for protection against wind and sand), sunglasses.
• Summer (June-August): T-shirt, shorts, sun hat, high protection sunscreen (SPF50+), folding umbrella (Beijing can have sudden showers in summer)
• Winter (December-February): down jacket, wool sweater, wool hat, gloves, wool socks